Wildlife on the Edge

The landscape and biodiversity in Cornwall today has been greatly altered by thousands of years of searching for and extracting metals and minerals.

The Geevor and Levant landscape is a mosaic of natural and man-made habitats with a long history of human use that has led to a colourful post-mining environment. Through the patchwork of fields and spoil heaps there is a wide range of flora and fauna unique to this coastal location. The sea spray and the naturally occurring heavy metals in the soil create an inimitable environment which is inhabited by a surprisingly varied selection of species that have adapted to live in these hostile conditions.

Photograph reproduced with the kind permission of the Geevor Archive, 360 panorama view reproduced with the kind permission of the University of Plymouth

Species Invaders

Non-native plant species are those that are not believed to be local to the area and often come from far-flung locations.